Adieu!  I have no patience.

      Yours,
          A. Fermor.

After all, I am a little droll; I am angry with Emily for concluding an advantageous match with a man she does not absolutely dislike, which all good mammas say is sufficient; and this only because it breaks in on a little circle of friends, in whose society I have been happy.  O! self! self!  I would have her hazard losing a fine fortune and a coach and six, that I may continue my coterie two or three months longer.

Adieu!  I will write again as soon as we are married.  My next will, I suppose, be from Montreal.  I die to see your brother and my little Fitzgerald; this man gives me the vapours.  Heavens!  Lucy, what a difference there is in men!

END OF VOL.  I.

THE HISTORY OF EMILY MONTAGUE.

Vol.  II

LETTER 55.

To Miss Rivers, Clarges Street.

Silleri, Jan. 16.

So, my dear, we went on too fast, it seems:  Sir George was so obliging as to settle all without waiting for Emily’s consent; not having supposed her refusal to be in the chapter of possibilities:  after having communicated their plan of operations to me as an affair settled, papa was dispatched, as Sir George’s ambassador, to inform Emily of his gracious intentions in her favor.

She received him with proper dignity, and like a girl of true spirit told him, that as the delay was originally from Sir George, she should insist on observing the conditions very exactly, and was determined to wait till spring, whatever might be the contents of Mrs. Clayton’s expected letter; reserving to herself also the privilege of refusing him even then, if upon mature deliberation she should think proper so to do.

She has further insisted, that till that time he shall leave Silleri; take up his abode at Quebec, unless, which she thinks most adviseable, he should return to Montreal for the winter; and never attempt seeing her without witnesses, as their present situation is particularly delicate, and that whilst it continues they can have nothing to say to each other which their common friends may not with propriety hear:  all she can be prevailed on to consent to in his favor, is to allow him en attendant to visit here like any other gentleman.

I wish she would send him back to Montreal, for I see plainly he will spoil all our little parties.

Emily is a fine girl, Lucy, and I am friends with her again; so, my dear, I shall revive my coterie, and be happy two or three months longer.  I have sent to ask my two sweet fellows at Quebec to dine here:  I really long to see them; I shall let them into the present state of affairs here, for they both despise Sir George as much as I do; the creature looks amazingly foolish, and I enjoy his humiliation not a little:  such an animal to set up for being beloved indeed!  O to be sure!